Bicycle shifting apparatus

Abstract

 A first shifting control device (9, 10) is located at a first position on the bicycle, and a second shifting control device (16, 20) is located at a second position on the bicycle. The first shifting control device includes a first shifting lever (24, 11) for causing the first shifting control device (9, 10) to pull and release a first transmission element (59, 14), and the second shifting control device (16, 20) includes a second shifting lever (26, 22) for causing the second shifting control device (16, 20) to pull and release a second transmission element (60, 13). An interlocking mechanism (72, 63, 66) interlocks the first shifting lever (24, 11) and the second shifting lever (26, 22) so that movement of either the first shifting lever or the second shifting lever causes the bicycle shifting control apparatus to shift the bicycle transmission.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to bicycle control devices and, more particularly, to a bicycle shifting apparatus having multiple remotely located levers for operating a single bicycle transmission.

[0002] Bicycles are typically equipped with a multistage front chain wheel in front and a multistage sprocket in the rear. These are connected by a chain, which provides rotational torque. The optimal gear ratio is selected, depending on the running speed, by selecting the multistage front chain wheel and multistage sprocket around which the chain is to be engaged. The shifting operations normally involve the operation of a shifting lever which can be operated from the grip position of the handle bars.

[0003] Many types of bicycle handle bars are shaped to provide for many different grip positions. For example, one position may be provided for riding at normal speed, and another position may be provided for riding at high speed, such as on hill roads, and usually designed to ward off wind resistance. Unfortunately, conventional shifting control devices are located only in a specific grip position. Thus, when the grip position is changed, it is not possible to control the shifting from the new position, making it necessary to move back to the original grip position in order to shift. Moving the hands back and forth and locating the proper grip positions wastes time and hinders high performance riding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to bicycle shifting control device which allows shifting to be accomplished from different positions on the handle bars (or other structural member of the bicycle). In one embodiment of the present invention, a first shifting control device is located at a first position on the bicycle, and a second shifting control device is located at a second position on the bicycle. The first shifting control device includes a first shifting lever for causing the first shifting control device to pull and release a first transmission element, and the second shifting control device includes a second shifting lever for causing the second shifting control device to pull and release a second transmission element. An interlocking mechanism interlocks the first shifting control device and the second shifting control device so that movement of either the first shifting lever or the second shifting lever causes the bicycle shifting control apparatus to shift the bicycle transmission.

[0005] Interlocking may be accomplished in a number of ways. In one specific embodiment, the interlocking mechanism comprises a connector for connecting the first transmission element and the second transmission element to the bicycle transmission. If desired, the connector may take the form of a joint for connecting the first transmission element and the connector may take the form of a joint for connecting the first transmission element and the second transmission element together and to a third transmission element so that the third transmission element may be connected to the bicycle transmission. In another specific embodiment, the interlocking mechanism may comprise a connector for connecting the second transmission element to the first shifting lever so that movement of the first shifting lever causes a corresponding movement of the second transmission element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] 

Figure 1 is an oblique view of handle bars provided with a particular embodiment of a bicycle shifting control mechanism according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view depicting a particular embodiment of fixtures for fixing cables to the handle bars;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a particular embodiment of a shift control device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of a shifting lever taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a particular embodiment of a plate spring used in the shifting control device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a particular embodiment of a position-determining plate used in the shifting control device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a particular embodiment of a clamp used in the shifting control device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 8 depicts a particular embodiment of a structure for fixing the cables and wires of a corresponding pair of the shifting control devices shown in Figure 1;

Figures 9A-9B depict in alternative embodiment of a structure for fixing the cables and wires of a corresponding pair of the shifting control devices shown in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is an oblique view of handle bars provided wilh an alternative embodiment of a bicycle shifting control mechanism according to the present invention;

Figure 11 is a partial cross sectional view of a shifting lever similar to the shifting lever shown in Figure 4, but with a particular embodiment of a cable connector according to the embodiment shown in Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of a a particular embodiment of a shift control device which may be used in the embodiment shown in Figure 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Figures 1 and 2 show handle bars provided with a particular embodiment of a bicycle shifting control mechanism according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the handle bars 1 are handle bars for a mountain bike. A horizontally arranged stem component 2 is connected to a bicycle head pipe (not show), and a cross component 4 is fixed to a stem bracket 3 at the end of the stem component 2. The cross component 4 is made of a metal pipe, both ends of which are bent at about a 90 degree angle. These parts constitute the side grips 5 and 6. Tubular synthetic resin grip members 7 and 8 are located on the cross component 4. These grip members 7 and 8 are gripped when the handle bars are operated during normal running for steering purposes.

[0008] A first front shifting control device 9 and a first rear shifting control device 10 are located transversely to the grip members 7 and 8. The first front shifting control device 9 is used to select a front chain wheel (not shown) for transferring the chain. More specifically, a first front shifting lever 24 in the first front shifting control device 9 is rotated to pull a wire 59 inside a cable 25 as to drive and shift the front derailleur (not shown). The first rear shifting control device 10 is used to select one of the rear multistage sprockets (not shown). More specifically, a first rear shifting lever 11 in the first rear shifting control device 10 is rotated to pull a wire 14 in a cable 12 so as to drive the rear derailleur (not shown) and shift gears. The structure and function of the first rear shifting control device 10 is the same as the first front shifting control device 9 and thus will not be described in detail.

[0009] A second front shift control device 16 is located at the side grip component 5. This second front shifting control device 16 has essentially the same structure and function as the first front shifting control device 9, allowing front shifting to be controlled from this position as well. A second front shifting lever 26 in the second front shifting control device 16 is rotated to pull a wire 60 in a cable 27 so as to drive and shift the front derailleur (not shown). A second rear shifting control device 20 is located at the side grip component 6 on the same handle bars 1. The second rear shifting control device 20 has essentially the same structure and function as the first rear shifting control device 10, allowing rear shifting to be controlled from this position as well. A second rear shifting lever 22 in the second rear shifting control device 20 is rotated to pull a wire 13 in a cable 15 so as to drive and shift the rear derailleur (not shown).

[0010] The intermediate sections of the cables 15 and 27 are held by an annular cable clip 17. The cable clip 17 is fixed to the bottom of a plate-shaped anchoring metal fixture 18. The top of the anchoring metal fixture 18 is fixed with a nut 19 to one end of the corresponding grip member 7,8. A cable adjusting unit 21 is provided at the inlet of second rear shifting control device 20. This cable adjusting unit 21 is designed to fine tune the angle and position of the second rear shifting lever 22 by moving the outer casing 15 and the cable 13 inside in relation to each other. A similar cable adjusting unit 23 is provided at the inlet of second front shifting control unit 16.

[0011] Figure 3 is a cross section depicting the interior of the first front shifting control device 9, and Figure 4 is a partial cross section of the shifting lever when taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3,a pedestal 30 comprises the main body of the shifting control device and is fixed by a band member 31 to the cross component 4. One end of the band member 31 is established on the pedestal 30 so that it is rockable at a shaft 32, while the other end is fixed to the cross component 4 by a bolt 33.

[0012] A fixing bolt 34 is screwed into a screw hole 35 on the pedestal 30. A floor cover 36, a metal washer 37, and a plate spring 38 are fixed between the pedestal 30 and the fixing bolt 34. The floor cover 36 is a cover for the base, and the plate spring 38 is provided to push the position-determining ball 39 upward. The plate spring 38 is in the form of a disk, and ball-retaining holes 40 for determining the position of, and holding, the position-determining ball 39 are formed in the radial direction (see Figure 5). The position-determining ball 39 can accordingly move only in the radial direction of the ball-retaining holes 40.

[0013] A position-determining plate 41 is arranged in the direction opposite the plate spring 38, with the position-determining ball 39 sandwiched between. The position-determining plate 41 is integrally fixed to the end face of a rotating cylinder member 42. Three position-determining holes 46 as well as position-determining holes 46 that differ from these by 180 degrees are formed in outer peripheral positions on the position-determining plate 41, for a total of six position-determining holes 46. Three position-determining holes 46 are located at the low L, middle M, and top T shifting ratios of the front shifting device. One position-determining ball 39 is inserted for these three position-determining holes 46, for a total of two position-determining balls 39 for all six holes. Friction components 47 in the form of rings are formed along the inside periphery of the position-determining holes 46 of the position-determining plate 41.

[0014] A clamp 50 is slidably and rotatably located on the cylindrical component 30a of the pedestal 30. Ball-retaining holes 51 are formed in the circumferential direction in the clamp 50. The position-determining balls 39 are held in the ball-retaining holes 51. The center position of the ball-retaining holes 51 expands in the radial direction. When the clamp 50 is rotated, the position-determining ball 39 in the ball-retaining hole 51 is thus moved in the radial direction and moves to the friction component 47 of the position-determining plate 41, where it is clamped. The rotating cylinder member 42 is slidably and rotatably located in part of the cylindrical part 30a of the pedestal 30.

[0015] A coiled return spring 43 is located between the rotating cylinder component 42 and the pedestal 30. One end of spring 43 is fixed to the rotating cylinder component 42, and the other end is fixed to the pedestal 30. The return spring 43 is energized in the direction counter to the energizing force of a return spring in the rear shifter (not shown), so as to equalize the torque needed to operate the first front shiting lever 24.

[0016] A wire-winding drum 44 is fixed along the outer periphery of the rotating cylinder component 42. A U-shaped concave part 45 is formed along the outer periphery of the wire-winding drum 44. As shown in Figure 4, the distance in the radial direction of the concave component 45 varies depending on the angle and position. The first front shifting lever 24 is integrally provided on the wire-winding drum 44. This first front shifting lever 24 is rotated to allow the wire-winding drum 44 to be rotated. The concave component 45 of the wire-winding drum 44 is for winding the push-pull cable 59. Since the distance in the radial direction varies depending on the angle and position, the lever ratio varies according to the angle and position when the first front shifting lever 24 is operated.

[0017] To operate the first front shifting control device 9, the first front shifting lever 24 is operated so as to rotate the wire-winding drum 44. When the wire-winding drum 44 is thus rotated, the push-pull cable 59 is wound along the concave component 45, pulling the wire in the cable 25 and effecting the necessary shifting operation. When the wire-winding drum 44 is rotated, the integral rotating cylinder component 42 and position-determining plate 41 are also rotated with it at the same time. Although the position-determining ball 39 can move only in the radial direction by means of ball-retaining hole 40, it is prevented from moving in the radial direction by means of the ball-retaining hole 51 of the clamp 50, so that it cannot move.

[0018] As a result of this rotation, the position-determining ball 39, which has stopped, is inserted into the next position-determining hole 46 of the position-determining plate 41, where it functions to determine position. That is, if the initial position is the low L position, the position of the first front shifting lever 24, winding drum 44, rotating cylinder component 42, and position-determining plate 41 moves to the next middle M position.

[0019] The following operations are done to execute this position determination in a non-stepwise manner. When the clamp 50 is rotated, the position-determining ball 39 is moved in the radial direction by the ball-retaining hole 51, allowing the ball to move to the friction component 47. The position-determining ball 39 fixes the position-determining plate 41 by means of the friction component 47. The position-determining plate 41 cannot be rotated, so the rotating cylinder component 42 can be fixed at a desired location.

[0020] The internal structure of the second front shifting control device 16 is the same as that of the first front shifting device 9 and thus will not be described in detail. Similarly, a detailed description will also be omitted for the internal structure of the first rear shifting control device 10 and second rear shifing control device 20 since they are essentially the same, except for the different number of shifting stages. Alternatively, these shifting control devices may have another well-known structure.

[0021] Figure 8 illustrates the method for fixing the cables and wires of the first and second front shifting control devices. A bracket 56 is welded and/or fixed by rivets to the vertical frame 55. Two cable support arms 57 protrude from the bracket 56. Tubular cable receivers 58 and 58 are integrally provided at the tip of each cable support arm 57. These cable receivers 58 are provided with floors. Holes through which wire is passed are opened in these floors, and cable caps for cables 25 and 27 are inserted into the cable receivers 58 to support them. One end each of the wire 59 of the cable 25 and of the wire 60 of the cable 27 is fixed to a front derailleur driving link 61. More specifically, one end of each of the wires 59 and 60 is inserted into the groove of a fixing plate 62, and the fixing plate 62 is fixed to the drive link 61 by a cable fixing bolt 63. Thus, when the first front shifting lever 24 or second front shifting lever 26 is operated, the drive link 61 constituting the four-node link mechanism of the front derailleur can be operated.

[0022] In this embodiment, when either of the first front shifting lever 24 or second front shifting lever 26 is operated, it is not possible to effect shifting with a shifting ratio higher than that because the drive link 61 cannot be returned, i.e., is in a pulled state, when either one of the shifting control devices is being operated. To avoid this, the lever that is not being used should be in the lowest shifting ratio, such as the low L position. Thus, for example, before the first front shifting lever 24 is operated, the second front shifting lever 26 should placed in the low L position initially. Thereafter, when the first front shifting lever 24 of the first front shifting control device 9 is operated, the wire 59 inside the cable 25 is pulled, driving the drive link 61. This, in turn, allows the front derailleur to be operated, transferring the sprocket chain (not shown) to effect shifting. The second front shifting lever 26 of the second front shifting control device 16 can be similarly operated, but in that case, the first front shifting lever 24 should initially be in the low L position.

[0023] Figures 9a and 9b are front and side cross sections of a second method for fixing the cables 59,60 to the front derailleur. As shown therein, two cable receivers 65 are fixed by welding to the vertical frame 55, and holes are provided at the bottoms to pass wires through. Cable caps for the cables 25 and 27 are inserted into the cable reivers 65 and 65 to support them.

[0024] One end each of the wire 59 of the cable 25 and of the wire 60 of the cable 27 is connected to a joint 66. The joint 66 is further connected to one end of a wire 67, while the other end of the wire 67 is fixed to the drive link 61 that drives the front derailleur. The joint 66 is formed in the shape of a cylinder and is slidably inserted within a guide face 69 of a guide 68.

[0025] When the first front shifting lever 24 of the first front shiting control device 9 is operated, the wire 59 inside the cable 25 is pulled. When the wire 59 is thus pulled, the joint 66 is guided inside the guide 68, and the joint 66 is moved up and down. The up and down movement of this joint 66 pulls and releases the wire 67 for controlling drive link 61 and thus operating the front derailleur.

[0026] Figure 10 is an oblique view of handle bars provided with an alternative embodiment of a bicycle shifting control mechanism according to the present invention. Structures which are the same as those shown in Figure 1 are numbered the same. In this embodiment, one end of wire 13 of cable 15 is connected with a ball joint 72 to the intermediate section of the shifting control lever 11'. Similarly, one end of wire 60 of a cable 27 is connected with a ball joint 72 to the intermediate section of the shifting control lever 24'. The ball joint 72 is a well known structure in which a socket having a shape encompassing the spherical end of each wire 13,60 is fixed on the shifting control levers 11',24', thus allowing the wires 13,60 and the shifting control levers 11',24' to be connected no matter what the angle of the shifting control levers.

[0027] First front shift control device 9 and first rear shift control device 10 are constructed the same as in Figure 1 with the exception of the provision of ball joint 72 on shift control levers 11' and 24'. Figure 11 is a cross section of first front shift control lever 11' showing the structure of ball joint 72. Furthermore, in this embodiment wire 59 is connected directly to the front derailleur, and wire 14 is connected directly to the rear derailleur.

[0028] Figure 12 is a partial cross sectional view of a particular embodiment of second front shift control device 16'. Second rear shift control device 20' is constructed the same way. In this embodiment, shifting control lever 26' can be rocked, pivoting on a central shaft 23 in the center position of the interlocking lever case 20. One end of cable 60 is connected by means of a ball joint 72 to one end of the shifting control lever 26'. The other end of the shifting control lever 26' is provided with a tab 28 for manual operation that is bent in the shape of an L. As may be seen by the drawing, operating the shifting control lever 26' allows the cable 60 to be operated and allows the shifting control lever 26' to be interlocked with shifting control lever 24', so that shifting can be controlled by either the shifting control lever 26' or the shifting control lever 24'.

[0029] While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the pesent invention. For example, the first and second front shifting control devices 9 and 16 in the embodiments disclosed above were types in which wires are driven by shifting levers, and these wires are returned by the same shifting levers. These front shifting control devices 9 and 16, however, may have another well-known structure not of this type, in which a ratchet mechanism is internally installed, and in which the wires are transported and driven by the shifting levers but are stopped by the ratchet mechanism, with a release lever provided to disconnect this engagement. The first rear shifting control device 10 and second rear shifting control device 20 may also have another structure and function. Although the shifting levers did not return to the operating positions in the aforementioned first and second front shifting control devices 9 and 16, they may be types that do return to the original position every time they are operated.

[0030] Although the interlocking of the shifting control device 11 and shifting control device 22 was effected with the cable 13 in the embodiment described above, it may also effected by another method, such as where the wire-winding drum 44 and the shifting control lever 22 are interlocked by a rod, or where a winding drum (no wire) driven by a shift control lever 22 and the wire-winding drum 44 are interlocked with a rod or push-pull cable.

[0031] Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures discloset. Instead, the true scope of the invention show be determined by the following claims. Of course, although labeling symbols are used in the claims in order to facilitate reference to the figures, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the constructions in the appended figures by such labeling.

Claims

1. A bicycle shifting control apparatus for a bicycle transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a first shifting control device (9, 10) located at a first position on the bicycle, the first shifting control device including a first shifting lever (24, 11) for causing the first shifting control device (9, 10) to pull and release a first transmission element (59, 14);

a second shifting control device (16, 20) located at a second position on the bicycle, the second shifting control device (16, 20) including a second shifting lever (26, 22) for causing the second shifting control device (16, 20) to pull and release a second transmission element (60, 13); and

interlocking means (72, 63, 66) for interlocking the first shifting control device (9, 10) and the second shifting control device (16, 20) so that movement of either the first shifting lever (24, 11) or the second shifting lever (26, 22) causes the bicycle shifting control apparatus to shift the bicycle transmission.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the interlocking means comprises a connector (63, 66) for connecting the first transmission element (59, 14) and the second transmission element (60, 13) to the bicycle transmission.

3. The apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the connection (66) comprises a joint for connecting the first transmission element (59, 14) and the second transmission element (60, 13) together and to a third transmission element (67) so that the third transmission element (67) may be connected to the bicycle transmission.

4. The apparatus according to Claim 3 further comprising a guide (69) in which the joint is slidingly disposed.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the interlocking means (72, 63, 66) connects the second transmission element (60, 13) to the first shifting device (9, 10) so that movement of the first shifting lever (24, 11) causes a corresponding movement of the second transmission element (60, 13).

6. The apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the interlocking means (72, 63, 66) comprises a connection (72) for connecting the second transmission (60, 13) to the first shifting lever (24, 11).

7. The apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the connection (72) comprises a ball joint.

8. The apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the first shifting control device (9, 10) comprises:

a first winding drum (44) coupled to the first shifting lever (24, 11) for winding and unwinding the first transmission element (59, 14).

9. The apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the second shifting control device (16, 20) comprises:

a second winding drum (44) coupled to the second shifting lever (26, 22) for winding and unwinding the second transmission element (60, 13).

10. The apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the first shifting control device (9, 10) further comprises:

a first positioning unit (38, 39, 41) coupled to the first shifting lever (24, 11) for positioning the first shifting lever (24, 11) at discrete locations.

11. The apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein the second shifting control device (16, 20) comprises:

a second winding drum (44) coupled to the second shifting lever (26, 22) for winding and unwinding the second transmission element (60, 13); and

a second positioning unit (38, 39, 41) coupled to the second shifting lever (26, 22) for positioning the second shifting lever (26, 22) at discrete locations.

12. The apparatus according to any of Claims 5, 6, 7 or 10 wherein the second shifting lever (26, 22) has first and second ends, wherein the second shifting lever (26, 22) is pivotably coupled to the second shifting control device (16, 20) between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end has a manual control surface, and wherein the second end is connected to the second transmission element (60, 13).

13. The apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein at least one of the first transmission element (59, 14) and the second transmission element (60, 13) comprises a cable.

Drawing